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Mapping By Cooperative Mobile Robots., Thomas Oliver Smailus Jan 2001

Mapping By Cooperative Mobile Robots., Thomas Oliver Smailus

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Constructing a system of intelligent robotic mapping agents that can function in an unstructured and unknown environment is a challenging task. With the exploration of our solar system as well as our own planet requiring more robust mapping agents, and with the drastic drop in the price of technology versus the gains in performance, robotic mapping is becoming a focus of research like never before. Efforts are underway to send mobile robots to map bodies within our solar system. While much of the research in robotic map construction has been focused on building maps used by the robotic agents themselves, …


Differential Modes Of External Change Agent Support In Diffusion Of Innovation., Janet Gibson Stevens Jan 2001

Differential Modes Of External Change Agent Support In Diffusion Of Innovation., Janet Gibson Stevens

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The main goal of this multiple-case exploratory study was to examine and describe the processes, perceptions and changes that occurred at the school level in ten south Louisiana middle schools, as the result of external change agent assistance given through the Louisiana School and District Accountability Program. Within this primary goal, the perception of external change agent influence on: (1) school effectiveness processes (i.e., discipline, teacher collaboration, expectations and quality of instruction); and (2) Fullan's school improvement processes were examined. This multiple case study involved five middle schools in Louisiana with two types of external change agents [i.e., the Distinguished …


William Albright's Sonata For Alto Saxophone And Piano: Analytical Insights And Performance Considerations., Brian Russell Utley Jan 2001

William Albright's Sonata For Alto Saxophone And Piano: Analytical Insights And Performance Considerations., Brian Russell Utley

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

William Albright's Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano amply demonstrates the stylistic eclecticism for which he is famous. The four movements exhibit distinct characters and musical languages, including references to compositional practices of the past, as in the two-part invention of the first movement and the follia of the second, and allusions to American popular music, as in the bebop sections of the finale. This polystylistic compositional approach also invites a variety of analytical techniques, including investigation into form, motivic development, register, texture, and pitch usage. This study, the first of its kind on Albright's sonata, examines these characteristics in …


Estimation Of Oceanic Surface Velocity Vector Fields Using Multiresolution., Guillermo Tonsmann Jan 2001

Estimation Of Oceanic Surface Velocity Vector Fields Using Multiresolution., Guillermo Tonsmann

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

This dissertation presents a new method for the estimation of oceanic surface velocity vector fields using multiresolution. Multiresolution is the ability to analyze a signal at various levels of resolution. In this dissertation, wavelet analysis is used to obtain multiresolution. This method requires the use of two sea surface temperature (SST) images of the same region taken within a known time interval. Wavelet analysis is performed in both images to reveal their components at decreasing resolution levels. The comparison of these components at each level yields vector fields representing local displacements of features within the images. These vector fields are …


The Russian Orthodox Church As A Symbol Of Right Order: A Voegelinian Analysis., Lee David Trepanier Jan 2001

The Russian Orthodox Church As A Symbol Of Right Order: A Voegelinian Analysis., Lee David Trepanier

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

I will use Eric Voegelin's "new science" of politics to examine whether the Russian Orthodox Church is a symbol of right order. By investigating symbols of order and disorder in Russia, we will be able to uncover the structures of consciousness of the Russian Orthodox Church leadership. The examination of the experiences of man's consciousness will in turn reveal whether he and his society are ordered correctly or incorrectly. The explanation of symbols of order and disorder and the experiences behind these symbols is presented thoroughly in the first chapter of this dissertation. The chapter will conclude with an explanation …


Two Splice Variants Of Nopp140 In Drosophila Melanogaster., John Mark Waggener Jan 2001

Two Splice Variants Of Nopp140 In Drosophila Melanogaster., John Mark Waggener

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The activities of non-ribosomal nucleolar proteins are now understood to be important for the normal functions of both nucleoli and C&barbelow;ajal B&barbelow;odies (CBs). Although these proteins have been studied extensively in other eukaryotes, knowledge of non-ribosomal nucleolar proteins in Drosophila melanogaster lags far behind. The n&barbelow;ucleo&barbelow;lar p&barbelow;hosphop&barbelow;rotein of 140 kDa (Nopp140) may function to shuttle box C/D and box H/ACA s&barbelow;mall n&barbelow;ucleo&barbelow;lar (sno)RNAs from the nucleus to the nucleolus, where they function in the 2 '-O-methylation and pseudouridylation of rRNA, respectively. Nopp140 homologues have been described in rat, human, Xenopus laevis , and yeast. This dissertation describes the cloning of …


On K-Conjugacy Classes Of Maximal Tori In Semi-Simple Algebraic Groups., Uroyoan Ramon-Emeterio Walker Jan 2001

On K-Conjugacy Classes Of Maximal Tori In Semi-Simple Algebraic Groups., Uroyoan Ramon-Emeterio Walker

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

An attempt was made to make this a self-contained reading. The first three chapters are intended to provide the necessary background. Chapter one develops the tools needed from Galois Cohomology. Chapter two is a brief description of involutions, and in chapter three we define the notion of (linear) algebraic group, we give some examples and discuss some of their properties. In chapter four, we discuss some variants of the classical Skolem-Noether theorem, requiring only that the subalgebra have a unique faithful representation of full degree over a separable closure. We verify that we can extend every isomorphism to the whole …


Team -Member Exchange And Trust Contexts: Effects On Individual Level Outcome Variables Beyond The Influence Of Leader -Member Exchange., Barbara Ann Wech Jan 2001

Team -Member Exchange And Trust Contexts: Effects On Individual Level Outcome Variables Beyond The Influence Of Leader -Member Exchange., Barbara Ann Wech

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Researchers and theorists have recognized the importance of multilevel research to gain a better understanding of organizational behavior. In particular, there is a need to assess leader-member exchange in the context within which the relationship takes place. This study assessed the associated effect of leader-member exchange and two contextual variables, team-member exchange and trust context, on individual performance, organizational citizenship behavior, fairness perceptions, and job satisfaction. At the individual level, supervisor ratings of leader-member exchange were positively associated with performance, organizational citizenship behavior directed at both individuals and the organization, fairness, and job satisfaction. Contextual effects were found for both …


The Early Identification Of Business Leaders: The Development And Validation Of A Leadership Potential Instrument., Robert Leroy Zehner Jan 2001

The Early Identification Of Business Leaders: The Development And Validation Of A Leadership Potential Instrument., Robert Leroy Zehner

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Business organizations spend a great of resources identifying and developing high potential leaders to ensure the continuity of their enterprises. Much of the time and money spent identifying potential leaders is applied inappropriately to employees who are not potential leaders. Many of these valuable employees enter the leadership stream seeking recognition only to find frustration and disappointment. The purpose of this study was to develop a cost effective tool that accurately identifies potential leaders from new professional employees entering a midsize specialty chemical company. By identifying potential leaders early in their employment career, time and energy could be devoted to …


Material Properties And Characteristics For Development Of An Expert System For Coal -Tar Sealers., James Edwin Shoenberger Jan 2001

Material Properties And Characteristics For Development Of An Expert System For Coal -Tar Sealers., James Edwin Shoenberger

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Coal-tar sealers are used to protect asphalt pavements from damage by fuel spillage. The durability of these coal-tar sealers has been limited by the formation of cracks that occur in both in trafficked and non-trafficked areas and in all climatic regions. This cracking severely limits the useful life of the coal-tar sealer. Various coal-tar mixtures were evaluated through existing standard test methods. The mixtures varied through the source of the coal-tar emulsion, amount of aggregate, and amount of polymer used in the mixtures. The material properties of these mixtures were determined through curing, thermal, bending, tensile and stress-relaxation testing. The …


Faculty Perceptions Of Communication Effectiveness In The Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service., Sally Maureen Soileau Jan 2001

Faculty Perceptions Of Communication Effectiveness In The Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service., Sally Maureen Soileau

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of the study was to determine communication patterns and effectiveness as perceived by specialists and agents of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service, and relate communication effectiveness with selected demographic characteristics. A qualitative component of the study focused on personal communication experiences of the faculty. A total of 210 agents and 106 specialists participated in the study. The survey instrument was validated by an expert panel and administered via a web site with an initial electronic mail contact and personal and electronic mail follow-ups. From a choice of 11 different methods of communication, specialists and agents used email and …


The Impact Of Individuals On Foreign Policy Decision Making., Robert Scott Crichlow Jan 2001

The Impact Of Individuals On Foreign Policy Decision Making., Robert Scott Crichlow

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

In this project I investigate how the psychological characteristics of key political leaders, their beliefs and personality traits, affect foreign policy. I use a multi-method approach. This includes both statistical analyses involving quantitative measures of leaders' psychological characteristics and policy preferences, as well as qualitative case studies of foreign policy decision making. I investigate two primary questions. First, what relationships exist between the psychological characteristics of political leaders and their policy preferences in times of international conflict? Second, how are the views of presidents and prime ministers reconciled with those of their key advisors in the creation of a national …


The Effects Of Segregation And Poverty On Latino Homicide Victimization In The United States., Catherine Elizabeth Burton Jan 2001

The Effects Of Segregation And Poverty On Latino Homicide Victimization In The United States., Catherine Elizabeth Burton

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

There has been a great deal of research investigating the relationship between crime and the structural features of urban communities. A number of studies have sought to determine whether pervasive poverty and social isolation are associated with the incidence of homicide among urban populations. Unfortunately, most studies have focused exclusively on African Americans, Anglos, or both. Furthermore, of the handful of studies that have examined Latino homicide, most have been focused on limited geographical areas. This study addresses the need for research focusing specifically on the relation of social and economic structural conditions to Latino homicide victimization rates. It does …


A Treatment-Based Reading Assessment., Gary Joseph Duhon Jr Jan 2001

A Treatment-Based Reading Assessment., Gary Joseph Duhon Jr

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Each year a large number of students are identified as having problems in reading. The methodology for the identification of reading problems has been established and in practice for several years, however, the tools necessary for the identification of remediation procedures appropriate for the individual student lack this level of refinement. This study is an attempt at refining current assessment practices for the purpose of identifying remediation procedures that are effective on the level of the individual student. A conceptual model of learning (instructional hierarchy) was combined with a treatment based functional assessment methodology, resulting in a behavior analytic approach …


The Role Of Kernel Epicuticular Wax In Zea Mays Resistance To Aspergillus Flavus And Aflatoxin Production., You-Keng Goh Jan 2001

The Role Of Kernel Epicuticular Wax In Zea Mays Resistance To Aspergillus Flavus And Aflatoxin Production., You-Keng Goh

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The physical and chemical roles of Zea mays (corn) kernel epicuticular wax in conferring resistance to aflatoxin production were examined. There was no evidence of a correlation between the amount of epicuticular wax and aflatoxin production in a kernel development experiment. Aflatoxin levels decreased as kernels developed. Epicuticular wax removal reduced aflatoxin at the earlier stages of development but increased aflatoxin in some genotypes at the later stages, indicating the importance of epicuticular wax during late-stage development and hinting of different defense mechanisms between the early- and late-stage kernels. The amount of epicuticular wax from mature kernels of 23 commercial …


Metal Partitioning Among Tissues And Exoskeleton Of Palaemonetes Pugio And Its Role In Depuration And Trophic Transfer., Kristen Annette Keteles Jan 2001

Metal Partitioning Among Tissues And Exoskeleton Of Palaemonetes Pugio And Its Role In Depuration And Trophic Transfer., Kristen Annette Keteles

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The objective of this dissertation was to determine the partitioning of Cu, Zn and Cd between tissues and exoskeleton of the grass shrimp, Palaemonetes pugio Holthius, and to examine the consequences of this association. The role of the exoskeleton in the potential for depuration of metals through ecdysis was examined first. The portion eliminated with the exuviae varied for each metal; 11% Cu, 18% Zn, and 26% Cd of the total intermolt body burden was associated with exuviae. Some fraction of Cu and Cd in the exoskeleton was likely reabsorbed before molting but excess Zn was likely depurated through excretion. …


Synthesis Of Water-Soluble Quaternary Ammonium Chitosan Derivatives And Their Potential Applications As Biocides., Dewayne Logan Jan 2001

Synthesis Of Water-Soluble Quaternary Ammonium Chitosan Derivatives And Their Potential Applications As Biocides., Dewayne Logan

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Chitosan is a polysaccharide obtained by deacetylating chitin, the major constituent of the exoskeleton of crustaceans. The driving force in the development of new applications for chitosan is not only is it naturally abundant, but it is non-toxic and biodegradable. It can be used as a chelating agent, coagulating agent, and flocculant. It has also been used to reduce blood cholesterol and as a dietary supplement. Chitosan derivatives have been synthesized for cosmetic applications and have been reported to exhibit antimicrobial activity. Further investigation of this potential activity is warranted due to increased antibiotic resistance. The focus of this work …


Predicting Short -Term Violence Among Forensic Inpatients., Mac Marcantel Martin Jan 2001

Predicting Short -Term Violence Among Forensic Inpatients., Mac Marcantel Martin

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Legal reforms initiated in 1975 led to an increasing reliance upon mental health professionals to make predictions concerning violent behavior among the mentally ill, giving way to a series of violence prediction studies. However, these studies were noted to have major limitations, including unacceptably low rates of correct classification, high rates of misclassification, use of static, unavailable, or impractical predictors, and failure to cross-validate findings. Further, the bulk of these studies focused on predicting post-hospitalization violence, as opposed to inpatient violence, which can have important ramifications in treatment settings. The current study therefore examined the ability of forensic patients' current …


Neuropsychological Effects Of Acute Mustard Gas Exposure., James Bryon Pinkston Jan 2001

Neuropsychological Effects Of Acute Mustard Gas Exposure., James Bryon Pinkston

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Introduction. Approximately 600 industrial workers reported exposure to sub-lethal levels of sulfur mustard gas and nitrogen mustard gas. A sample of 203 of these workers were administered standardized measures of perceptual, motor, intellectual, academic, attentional, memory, abstract reasoning, and psychological functioning, as well as level of effort during testing. Mean time from exposure to testing was 1.18(SD = .35) years. Males comprised 97.5% of the participants and 79.3% were Caucasian. Mean education was 11.67(SD = 1.73) years and mean age at exposure was 36.74( SD = 10.31) years. Method. Mustard gas exposure severity was defined by the presence of obvious …


The Perceived Influence Of Selected Factors On The Decision Of Louisiana 4-H Teens And Non-4-H Teens To Volunteer., Kenneth Spoto Jan 2001

The Perceived Influence Of Selected Factors On The Decision Of Louisiana 4-H Teens And Non-4-H Teens To Volunteer., Kenneth Spoto

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The primary purpose of this study was to determine the contributions Louisiana 4-H teens and Non 4-H teens make to volunteer organizations and the principal factors influencing the decision of Louisiana teens to volunteer. A random sample of 2,281 teens, ages 14--19 years (9th--12th graders), enrolled in Louisiana public secondary schools of education were the participants of this study. The data collection instrument was pre-tested for reliability and yielded a .95 Cronbach's Alpha internal consistency coefficient for 32 scale items. A total of 3,853 surveys were mailed or hand delivered in October and 2,281 usable responses returned for a response …


Teacher Efficacy, Administrator Efficacy, School Culture, And Leadership Density., Roy Wade Smith Jan 2001

Teacher Efficacy, Administrator Efficacy, School Culture, And Leadership Density., Roy Wade Smith

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

This study examined new means for conceptualizing leadership in schools from a non-centrist perspective. Specifically, leadership in schools was conceived of, and studied as, an organizational construct rather than a set of personal attributes associated with positional authority. This non-centrist view of leadership is termed leadership density (Sergiovanni, 1987; Ellett, 1996), and is metaphorically represented in the study by characteristics of a small jazz combo. The primary focus of the study was the development of a new conceptual model of leadership, grounded within the small jazz combo metaphor. In an attempt to understand leadership from this new perspective, linkages between …


Professional Culture And Efficacy Correlates Of Organizational Effectiveness In Cooperative Extension Services., Rebecca Elaine White Jan 2001

Professional Culture And Efficacy Correlates Of Organizational Effectiveness In Cooperative Extension Services., Rebecca Elaine White

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Several important lines of inquiry have been developed during the past fifty years to study the complex nature of educational organizations. In particular, theorists, researchers, and educational policy makers have become increasingly concerned about the effectiveness of educational institutions. Recently, significant research and policy maker attention has been focused on issues of effectiveness of higher education. The Cooperative Extension Services as ancillary outreach units of state land grant universities are no exception and the extant literature has been focused primarily on outcomes as organizational effectiveness measures. This study addresses the need to develop more comprehensive conceptual frameworks for studying perceived …


Soil Management In Two Highland Guatemalan Municipios: Local Perspectives On The Management And Degradation Of Soil Resources., Steven James Rainey Jan 2001

Soil Management In Two Highland Guatemalan Municipios: Local Perspectives On The Management And Degradation Of Soil Resources., Steven James Rainey

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

This dissertation studies how small farmers of two ethnic groups manage the soil resource in a portion of Highland Guatemala that is considered marginal for crop production due to steep slopes. In the past, various groups concerned about environmental degradation tended to blame peasant farmers such as these for degrading the land resource through "primitive and backward" agricultural practices and a general lack of knowledge of the consequences of their actions. Yet attempts to convince small farmers to adopt new techniques have often failed due in part to an inadequate knowledge of local conditions and to a failure to recognize …


Multiscale Analysis For Characterization Of Remotely Sensed Images., Wei Zhao Jan 2001

Multiscale Analysis For Characterization Of Remotely Sensed Images., Wei Zhao

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

In this study we addressed fundamental characteristics of image analysis in remote sensing, enumerated unavoidable problems in spectral analysis, and highlighted the spatial structure and features that increase information amount and measurement accuracy. We addressed the relationship between scale and spatial structure and the difficulties in characterizing them in complex remotely sensed images. We suggested that it is necessary to employ multiscale analysis techniques for analyzing and extracting information from remotely sensed images. We developed a multiscale characterization software system based on an existing software called ICAMS (Image Characterization And Modeling System), and applied the system to various test data …


Lipopolysaccharide Receptor, Toll -Like Receptor 4, Mediated Signaling Pathways Leading To Cyclooxygenase-2 Expression In Murine Macrophages., Sang Hoon Rhee Jan 2001

Lipopolysaccharide Receptor, Toll -Like Receptor 4, Mediated Signaling Pathways Leading To Cyclooxygenase-2 Expression In Murine Macrophages., Sang Hoon Rhee

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Genetic evidence indicating that Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) receptor in mice was reported. However, biochemical evidence that murine TLR4 confers LPS responsiveness has not been convincingly demonstrated. Inducible cyclooxygenase (COX-2) is selectively expressed in LPS-stimulated macrophages in part mediated through activation of NFkappaB. Thus, we determined whether murine TLR4 confers LPS responsiveness as evaluated by activation of NFkappaB and COX-2 expression. Expression of the constitutively active form (DeltaTlr4) of TLR4 in murine macrophage cell line (RAW 264.7) is sufficient to activate NFkappaB and COX-2 expression and to stimulate prostaglandin E2 synthesis. The truncated form [DeltaTlr4 (P712H)] …


Some Technical Vocabulary Of Rhetorical Invention In The Treatise Of Anonymous Seguerianus, Hermogenes' "On Statis", And Book Three Of The [Pseudo-]Hermogenic Work "On Invention", Mark Allen Williams Jan 2001

Some Technical Vocabulary Of Rhetorical Invention In The Treatise Of Anonymous Seguerianus, Hermogenes' "On Statis", And Book Three Of The [Pseudo-]Hermogenic Work "On Invention", Mark Allen Williams

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

From the debates of the Christian councils to the homilies of the local priests, from the opaque scripting of the Byzantine epistle to the clarities of stasis theory, from the entertaining fictions of declamation to the promulgation of Byzantine cannon law, the citizens of Byzantium were never far from the rhetorical, and they themselves knew it. But the development of rhetorical theory in the Greek West has gained little attention, and what has been given to it has generally concentrated on questions of style. This dissertation examines some of the most basic qualities of that theory of rhetorical invention which …


The Effect Of Psychotropic Medications On Social Skills In Persons With Profound Mental Retardation., Jerald Wayne Bamburg Jr Jan 2001

The Effect Of Psychotropic Medications On Social Skills In Persons With Profound Mental Retardation., Jerald Wayne Bamburg Jr

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

People with mental retardation exhibit a large number of behavioral excesses and deficits and the full range of psychopathology. As a result, interventions involving psychotropic medications are widely used in the population. However, few conducted studies have examined the effect of psychotropic interventions on the total behavioral repertoire. Most studies examine only the suppression of symptoms or maladaptive behaviors without considering the manner in which medications may alter the positive behavioral repertoire or cause deleterious side effects. This study aimed to address medication effects on the positive behavioral spectrum by examining the effects of these interventions on social skills, adaptive …


De Haas-Van Alphen Effect Measurements On Cerium-Lanthanum-M-Indium (M = Cobalt, Rhodium, Iridium) Alloys., Umit Alver Jan 2001

De Haas-Van Alphen Effect Measurements On Cerium-Lanthanum-M-Indium (M = Cobalt, Rhodium, Iridium) Alloys., Umit Alver

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The de Haas van Alphen (dHvA) effect, which measures the oscillatory component of the magnetization, in several CexLa1-x MIn5 (M = Rh, Co, Ir) alloys for 0 ≤ x ≤ 1 has been studied in detail using torque, pulse field and field modulation techniques. The frequencies, associated extremal cross sectional areas of the Fermi surface and effective masses of each sample throughout each of the series are reported. The energy band calculations of CeRhIn5, CeCoIn5 and CeIrIn5 assume that the 4f electrons in Ce are completely delocalized and these electrons make a significant contribution to the topology of the Fermi …


Holding Up And Holding On: Socialization Experiences Of Beginning Teachers In Differentially Effective Schools., Pamela Sanders Angelle Jan 2001

Holding Up And Holding On: Socialization Experiences Of Beginning Teachers In Differentially Effective Schools., Pamela Sanders Angelle

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The current study examined the socialization experiences of beginning teachers within the context of differentially effective middle schools. A mixed method design, using quantitative and qualitative approaches, was employed. The sample consisted of ten middle schools in Louisiana, five matched pairs, using an intensity strategy. The study was conducted in six phases of data collection. Phase One designed and carried out a pilot study. Interview data from school principals and mentors was collected in Phase Two, while Phase Three involved the collection of survey data from beginning teachers to measure perceptions of assistance, monitoring, team-building, and intention to remain in …


Spatial Variability And Isotopic Studies Of The Prairie -Forest Transition Soil In Louisiana., Asfaw Bekele Jan 2001

Spatial Variability And Isotopic Studies Of The Prairie -Forest Transition Soil In Louisiana., Asfaw Bekele

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The calcareous prairies of Louisiana are among the most endangered ecosystems in North America. The major threat to this ecosystem is the invasion by woody and herbaceous plants, primarily eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana ). The restoration and management of these rare plant communities require a thorough understanding of the soils supporting them. Geostatistical, fractal, and stable isotopic procedures were integrated to study the soil and vegetation spatial variability. The prairie soil was alkaline, the forest soil was acidic, and the transition soil was neutral. The spherical model described the spatial variability of virtually all the soil properties considered with …